Building construction



Feb. 20, 1951 J. H. MOAULIFFE, JR

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 6, l#

. Il infill Illini fO/f/fif//f 2% fg @W Patented Feb. 20, 1951 John H. McAuliffe, Jr., Oak Park, Ill.

Application June 6, 1947, Serial No. 752,927

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a building construction and more particularly a construction for a building composed of rigid wooden (Cl. :Z-2)

frames, the parts of which may be prefabricated cut to specifications and thereby more expeditiously shipped and erected.

Another object is to provide a structural method or system which, through standardization of basic structural shapes and use of a standard module, permits innumerable variations in the application of standard sized doors, windows, and exterior and interior nish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rigid frame sectional building in which the parts may be provided with notches for attachment to adjoining sections and by means of strengthening members such as gussets bonded to adjoining sections by waterproof. glue alone or by a combination of waterproof glue and a minimum of nails, screws or other fastening means.

Another object of the invention `is to provide a construction having a strengthening or connecting member or ribband for the studs and roof supporting members and which provides a natural base for continuous cove lighting along said ribband, and which may be adapted for clerestory lighting at the intersection of the rafters where secured by gussets.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an end View of a building constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 4;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view partly in section of the outer end of the roof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the ribband or roof and stud connection member; and

Figure 6 .is a 'fragmentary perspective view of.A

the roof ridge.

While my invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail one such embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the in-v' vention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing the building constructed in accordance with the invention is shown as comprising a plurality of studs I U which 1 may be two by fours or two by sixes of the desired height and extend upwardly from a support such as. a iioor sill I I mounted in or on a suitable base such as a concrete floor, notches having been previously cut in the sill at suitably spaced intervals to receive the lower -ends of the studs. At their upper ends the studs are received in transverse notches I2 in an upper support member or ribband I3, this member also being provided with notches I4 in its upper side for the reception of a rafter I5 or I5a, each of said rafters also resting on and being supported by the top of a stud I 0, the top being cut at the proper angle as shown in Figure 2.

Near their inner ends the rafters I5 and I5a are secured to plywood gussets I6. Ridge board I 1 is attached to the rafter ends. Ridge member I8 consists of solid bridging secured to t-he rafters along the edge of the plywood gussets. As shown in Figure 1 the gussets I6 are of triangular shape, the upper angle of the triangle being flush with the end of one rafter I5. As shown in the drawings, the gusset is an isoceles triangle with its base on a vertical line, the two edges of the base being the ridge board I'I and solid bridging I8. The apex of the triangle ison the edge of the rafter I5. The rafter Ia is cut at an angle to support the other edge of the rafter I5. Each rafter set, I5 and I5a, is preferably provided with two gussets I6, one on each side, and the gussets are attached to the rafters by means of waterproof glue, or a combination of waterproof glue and a minimum of nails, screws, or other fastening means. In the variation shown on the drawing, the rafter I5 is longer than the rafter I5a so that the two rafters will meet at the center line between the two sets of studs I8 but could meet in conventional manner at such line. The space between the boards I'l and I8 may be 3 closed by siding or the like or may be left open or be closed by louvers to permit ventilation.

At their outer ends the rafters are also provided with triangular shaped gussets I9 which are right angles having a blunt end to which is secured the eave board 20, the gussets I9 being secured to the upper sides of the studs I and the rafter l or |5a by either waterproof glue or a combination of waterproof glue and a minimum of nails, screws or other fastening means, there being preferably two gussets one on each side.

It is apparent from the above description that.

the invention provides a rigid frame structure that eliminates the necessity for the usual ceiling joists or horizontal beams extending from the tops of opposing rafters. The construction` furthermore dispenses with the necessity for any interior bearing walls, and permits of a minimum of nails, screws, bolts and the like; the Water proof glue alone is suiicient, although field conditons may require the use of a minimum of nails, screws, or other fastening means to in'- sure proper alignment of the members and bonding of the glue. Windows, doors and exterior and? interior finish may be placed as desired Without the necessity for any roughframing, Iand the' use of glue may replace the usual metal joining elements. Likewise the structure permits the placement of interior partition-s at substantiallyv anyv desired part of the structure, since such partitions would all be non-bearing. The ribband or support member is of sufficient strength to permit elimination of certain studs thus affording larger clear'openings for Windows, doors orv thelike;

I claim:

1. In a rigid frame structural construction, base members, a pair of opposed rows of vertical 4 studs supported on and extending upwardly from the base members, a rafter extending upwardly and inwardly from each of said studs and resting on and in coplanar relation thereto and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, a triangular gusset secured to the side face of the outer end of each rafter and the upper end of its supporting stud, a structural member extendingaalong the studs of each row and secured to their inner faces at the top and supporting the rafters of one row, the rafters of one row beiner in coplanar relation to those of the other row and abutting against the under sides thereof substantially short of their upper ends and a triangular gusset plate secured to the sides of engaging ends of each pair of rafters for securing them together.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the studs and said structural members are joined by notches in said members.

3. The structure set forth in claim l wherein the joining means for the gussets is waterproof glue;

JOHN H. MCAULIFFE, JR..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record` in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I-'EJ.\I"I'Sv NumberA Name Date Printed Pub.: Aremtecturai Record, Nov. 1943,

pp. 62 .and 63.

Pownal1. Dec. 25, 1923v Davison Apr, 3,. 1945.,.- 

